Category Archives: What is Zero Waste

As a special treat for Urban Bandit readers, Cliff Barre, co-author of the fabulous blog Peace, Love, & Travel with Cliff and Tiff, gives us his rundown of inspiring projects across the US to remind us that there’s lots of good green stuff going on out there! Please enjoy this guest post by Cliff. **** Many … Continue reading →

In the wake of Black Friday, as consumers gave thanks for the mega deals, a tragedy in the developing world provided a stark reminder of the impacts of our consumption and drive for profit. On Saturday night, November 26, 2012, at least 112 workers were killed in a Bangladesh garment factory. Some broke windows, jumping from … Continue reading →

Waste is one of those words that is so widely used we often forget to question what it really means. It may only be five letters long but it’s a big word. It can be used as a verb, noun or adjective to refer to a substance or object, thoughtlessness, a missed opportunity or inefficiency. … Continue reading →

As another October comes to a close, many of us will find ourselves viewing the world through rose coloured lenses as National Breast Cancer Awareness Month brings an explosion of pink everything – from ribbons and bracelets to blenders and frying pans. And while we’ve all heard about the problems with greenwashing (explored in my earlier article … Continue reading →

Just a quick update to announce that my next upcoming speaking engagement will be at the Wide World of Waste in Jasper, Alberta, Canada. The conference is being held October 3-5 and is hosted by the Recycling Council of Alberta. I’ll be presenting my research on what zero waste means as a theoretical concept compared … Continue reading →

As a ‘waste expert’ my friends often ask me to solve their various personal waste dilemmas. This morning’s question from one of my roomates was “What am I supposed to do with all these mismatched socks?” My response, “Umm, wear them and not care that they are mismatched?” After all, socks are a clothing item … Continue reading →

In November 2011, I presented my zero waste research at a Philosophy and Waste conference at the University of Southern Illinois. Although much philosophical thinking is beyond my comprehension, considering waste within this discipline reveals some interesting points. Using the ever so trusty Wikipedia, philosophy is defined as, “the study of general and fundamental problems, such as … Continue reading →

I started my zero waste journey over a year ago. In my final year of my Master in Environmental Studies at York University in Toronto, Canada I was faced with the ultimate student dilemma. What should I spend the next year of my life researching? I always loved urban environments. I was an environmentalist that … Continue reading →